🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 23
Kaian dissolved the medicine the doctor had left behind into warm water.
“My lord, I’ll do it.”
“It’s fine. Leave.”
“…Yes.”
Now, only Kaian and Estelle remained in her bedroom.
Crackle. Crackle. Clink. Clink.
The sound of firewood burning in the fireplace and the faint clinking of the spoon stirring the medicine filled the room. At the same time, the bitter scent of herbs spread through the air.
Perhaps because the doctor had said her life wasn’t in danger, the tension in his heightened senses eased slightly.
She was an enemy he wouldn’t mind seeing dead—so why had he been so anxious?
Even Kaian couldn’t understand himself.
But after a long stretch of contemplation, he reached one conclusion.
Do you think I’ll let you go? Let you escape this mire alone once again?
You must atone by my side. You must despair and suffer beside me. You must carve into your bones—no, into your very soul—just how horrific the hell you created truly is. Only then would it be fair.
So don’t you dare seek freedom, not even through death. Not until my mother’s honor is restored. Not until the day you die—no, even after death.
Don’t delude yourself into thinking you can escape this swamp.
This was nothing more, nothing less than revenge. Certainly not pity, and even less so love.
Truly.
By the time his tangled thoughts came to an end, the medicine had long since fully dissolved. Kaian lifted a spoonful to his lips.
Still hot.
It was hot enough to burn, so he stirred it slowly, letting it cool to a suitable temperature.
After testing it again with his lips, he nodded in satisfaction and carefully brought it to Estelle’s mouth.
But despite his cautious touch, half of it spilled out.
Feeding medicine to someone unconscious at the right pace was far more difficult than he had expected.
As if collapsing wasn’t troublesome enough, she even spat out the medicine he tried so hard to give her. Truly, she was a difficult woman.
“…Ha.”
No matter how many times he tried, the result was the same. After all, it was his first time personally tending to someone like this—his hands were bound to be clumsy.
There’s no helping it.
In the end, Kaian took the medicine into his own mouth. The bitterness made him frown, but without hesitation, he pressed his lips against Estelle’s.
He waited until the medicine flowed fully through the parted gap between their lips before pulling away. This time, none of it spilled—he had successfully made her swallow it.
Once. Twice. Three times.
After repeating it countless times, the bowl was nearly empty. And little by little, color began to return to Estelle’s pale face.
Now, only one last spoonful remained.
But Kaian hesitated.
For some reason, pressing his lips against Estelle—who looked as though she might wake at any moment—made him pause.
This is just a method of treatment. Nothing impure about it.
Steeling himself, Kaian took the medicine into his mouth again and covered Estelle’s lips. Now that she had regained some warmth, her lips were soft—warm and pliant. The familiar scent and the subtle sensation momentarily clouded his reason.
As desire began to rise within him, threatening to overtake the purpose of his actions—
“Mm….”
Estelle let out a faint groan, her brow furrowing in discomfort.
“…Ha.”
Only then did Kaian regain his senses. He pulled away from her and straightened his body, which had leaned in closer than necessary.
To react like this toward someone unconscious—and not just anyone, but an enemy. I’m no better than a beast.
With a bitter, self-mocking thought, Kaian stepped far away from the bed.
Since only he and the unconscious Estelle were in the room, he found himself strangely relieved that no one had witnessed his foolishness.
Estelle Astrea was a dangerous woman.
No matter how firmly he steeled himself, she would occasionally slip through the cracks of his resolve like this, threatening to topple even the emperor of the empire.
And yet, the woman in question slept peacefully, completely unaware of the precarious moment she had just caused him.
Her chest rose and fell gently, her faint breaths steady.
She acted like a ruthless wielder of power without blood or tears… yet she collapses from something as simple as spring rain.
Seeing this side of Estelle—so different from what he had known in the imperial palace—made Kaian’s thoughts waver.
Come to think of it, there were many things about her that had changed.
The woman who once carried an air of weary indifference toward the world now became easily shaken and fearful when it came to her child.
Did she change because of the child… or did she truly lose her memories and become someone else entirely?
As Kaian was lost in thought, Estelle’s lips moved faintly.
“…dan.”
“Estelle, are you awake?”
Sensing she was trying to say something, Kaian leaned closer, listening carefully.
“…Sor…dan.”
“What?”
“Bring… Sordan. Please… bring Sordan—”
“…Ha.”
The name she called so desperately was that of another man.
Her voice was filled with longing, as if tears might spill from her closed eyes at any moment.
Whoever he was, the fact that she sought him so desperately even in unconsciousness filled Kaian with an intense, rising displeasure.
“I can’t stand to watch this.”
With restrained irritation, Kaian pressed down on her furrowed brow, smoothing it out.
Even so, he found himself unconsciously careful, wary of harming her delicate head.
Perhaps it worked.
Soon, Estelle’s expression softened, and she sank back into a deep sleep.
“Sordan…”
But Kaian’s anger did not subside.
Here he was—the emperor himself—personally tending to her, feeding her medicine, caring for her…
And yet she called out for another man.
Unforgivable.
That child… it’s not his, is it?
A sharp glint flashed in Kaian’s red eyes.
“I suppose I’ll have to see what kind of bastard he is myself.”
This wasn’t some petty emotion—it was a matter of imperial dignity and the honor of the royal family.
Knock. Knock.
“My lord, may I come in for a moment?”
Cedric’s voice came from beyond the door.
“Come in.”
Cedric entered as soon as he received permission.
“The priestess who arrived in Aren via portal last night has rested and is ready to meet you.”
“She recovered faster than expected. Just as I heard—she must be quite capable.”
“When would you like to see her?”
“The sooner the better. Bring her in now.”
Originally, he had summoned the priestess to determine whether any traces of a mental-type demonic influence remained in Estelle.
Since it would be best to confirm this without her knowing, now—while she was asleep—was the perfect opportunity.
“Yes, I’ll bring her immediately.”
“Wait.”
Kaian stopped Cedric as he was about to leave.
“Do you have another order?”
“Sordan.”
“…Pardon?”
“Investigate someone named Sordan. Check everyone connected to Libetta Marian—no, the empress. Find out where he is, what he’s doing, and everything about his past.”
“Understood.”
Even if it meant searching the entire continent, he intended to uncover the man’s identity.
First, I’ll confirm whether you’ve truly lost your memory… or if this is just another one of your cunning acts.
Not long after Cedric left to fetch the priestess, another knock sounded.
“Enter.”
“I am Diana of Orsel. I was told you summoned me.”
The priestess who entered immediately bowed respectfully to Kaian.
Diana had long, lustrous dark blonde hair tied high into a single ponytail, her figure slender.
Despite her delicate appearance, her deep amber eyes shone with clarity and unwavering strength.
Her pure white priest’s robe, simple and without ornament, still radiated a brilliance unique to those possessing great divine power.
If Estelle was a striking beauty with a cold, elegant aura, Diana had the charm of a warm wildflower.
But that was merely how others might see her.
Kaian, who had summoned her, felt no particular interest in her appearance. His concern lay solely with her abilities.
“I hear you possess the ability to perceive traces of mental-type demonic influence.”
“More precisely, I can determine whether ancient divine power or curses have been activated. Since the fall of the ancient holy kingdom of Deutsche, only demons tend to wield such power, so the terms are often used interchangeably.”
Diana explained her ability in a calm voice.
Next
